Kristin Lems: Song Lyrics

As my plane came back to Chicago, I started humming the chorus of this little tune, and pretty soon it got verses. The second verse is a more recent addition and didn't appear on the original Oh Mama! album. One of my most requested songs!

I’m going back to Chicago
The place where I belong
Well I might be gone tomorrow
But today I’ll sing this song
I’m going back to my mama
I love her, yes I do
She’ll see I’ve changed a lot this year
And I’m sure that she has too.

Well the clouds over Iceland were whiter than the snow
And in the deserts of Iran, all the oil flares did glow
Well I’ve seen sandy white beaches, and Caribbean blue
But in the end, I’ll always wend my way back home to you

I’ve seen museums and markets
Walked barefoot by the shore
Well I’ve heard street songs and sweet songs
And I’d like to hear them more
I’ve eaten snails, squid, and couscous
And things that had no name
But children everywhere I go
Seem to always laugh the same.

Well, some they acted kindly and others treated me bad
I’ll always remember all the good times that I had
I’ve spoken French, Dutch and Persian, learned the language of the hands
But at heart I’m just a local girl, come from Chicagoland!